Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly was thanking his lucky stars after last night's win against USC

The team now looks certain to play in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 28 in Orlando, Fla.

'''It's about time we got a break,'' Kelly said.

'More than anything else, today we put the fight back in the Fighting Irish, and that's what we wanted to do,'' Kelly said. ''We didn't flinch, that's a part of the character of this year. We've overcome a lot of adversity. We faced it again in the fourth quarter and when we were required to play our best we came up with the big drive and the big stop.''

Standout Wide receiver Michael Floyd agreed.

''We had the luck of the Irish and God on our side on that one,'' wide receiver Michael Floyd said. ''That was good luck on our part.''

Senior Robert Hughes who played a huge role in the victory agreed but was modest about his own role.

''Like I've been saying my whole career here, when I got the opportunity I made the most of it,'' said Hughes,''It felt good. A lot of the guys, they know what I'm capable of. It's all about me coming out here and doing what I know how to do.''

Interception her Harrison Smith who could so easily have been the goat when he slipped and incredibly, Johnson the USC receiver dropped the ball with a certain touchdown inn front of him was also thanking his Irish luck.

''There's really not much you can think. My heart dropped,'' Smith said. ''He made a great move and I just lost my footing. I'm glad I said my prayers.''